Tourist Attractions/Layovers
There's so much to do in St. Petersburg/Clearwater that it's easy to fill your days - and evenings - with fun, excitement and relaxation. A little planning will help you coordinate your activities to make your visit truly memorable. Whether you're here for a weekend getaway or an extended family vacation, these suggested sites and activities are great way to see and do more with your time.

Top Recommended Layover Activities:

1. Clearwater Public Beach
Clearwater Beach, FL
Locus for much of the area's beach-going, Clearwater is famous for its beautiful white sands and excellent swimming. It's also frequented by families out for a day of fun and by folks who have more hedonistic pleasures in mind (though not necessarily in the same vicinity). There's plenty to keep visitors occupied, from water sports to fishing, volleyball, and socializing. Beach bars cater to younger folks hoping to meet other available singles, and area playgrounds accommodate young ones thrilled to be near the ocean. Road access to Clearwater Beach is often crowded, so be prepared for delays in reaching the fun.

2. Indian Rocks Beach
1700 Gulf Blvd, south of Clearwater, Indian Rocks Beach, FL
If you like the scenery of Clearwater Beach but can't justify the hassle of getting there or its shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, Indian Rocks Beach is a pleasant alternative. Not nearly so commercialized, it harks back to the beach-going of past days. That's not to say, however, that civilization has been dismissed. Venues for dining, shopping, and nightlife can be found in the area, along with a park that offers showers, restrooms, and other conveniences.

3. Salvador Dali Museum
1000 3rd St, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 · 727-823-3767
Although its Florida premiere was in 1982, this museum had been in the works for 45 years, thanks to the artistic appetite of A. Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, an Ohio couple who admired and eventually came to know Dali. They compiled a substantial collection of Dali's works and established the museum when their home could no longer contain their holdings. The museum now offers hundreds of drawings, oils, sculptures, watercolors, posters, photos, and graphics. Special exhibits also rotate in regularly.

4, St. Petersburg Museum of History
335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 · 727-894-1052
From prehistoric times to the present, Pinellas County has seen a world of change, and this intriguing museum charts it all. Exhibits recollect Native American settlements, the nation's first commercial aircraft, period costume through the years, and even the ways the area was represented in souvenirs and early pop culture. A mummy, a trolley car, and other artifacts that have provided the area with its unmistakable character are also available for browsing and marveling at.

5. Florida Holocaust Museum
55 5th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 · 727-820-0100
More than attempting to preserve the memory of former transgressions, this fascinating museum seeks to foster an atmosphere of tolerance and cooperation in light of the past. Its multi-media exhibits allow visitors to experience the oppression of the human spirit (as well as its flights of freedom) via historical papers, photographs, and other visual, tangible objects. One of the museum's most sobering artifacts is an actual boxcar that shuttled prisoners to concentration camps.

Top Weekend Getaways And Day Trip Excursions:

1. Busch Gardens
3000 E Busch Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 · 813-987-5082
Prepare to be overwhelmed! This theme park, based on Africa's past, is divided into ten sections that showcase exotic animals, roller coasters, and live entertainment. While you're there, head for "Edge of Africa" and come face-to-face with hyenas, lions and crocodiles; visit "The Congo" and check out water rides and white tigers; take the kids to "Land of the Dragons" and let them explore the three-story tree house and other fairy-tale attractions. Whatever your fancy, it will be met at Florida's largest west-coast park, which also contains one of the nation's best zoos.

2. Adventure Island Tampa
1001 McKinley Ave, Tampa, FL 33612 · 813-987-5600
With 24 different, thrilling water rides strategically placed throughout this 30-acre park, the fun is seemingly endless! Attractions are suitable for all ages; Fabian's Funport or Splash Attack, for example, are specially designed for younger children, while wild rides like the Caribbean Corkscrew (two enclosed water slides intertwined to the depths) and the Tampa Typhoon (featuring a seven-story drop into a pool of water) keep big brothers and sisters entertained. At Adventure Island, the quest for fun will surely be satiated.